TransAsia Airways Aircraft Crashes in Taiwan

An ATR 72-600 operated by Taiwan's TransAsia Airways was involved in an accident on Wednesday at around 10:45 (local time) near Taipei Songshan airport in Taiwan.

The flight GE235 was operating between Taipei and Kinmen with 58 people on board. 15 people survived the crash, 31 people died and 12 are missing.

The aircraft, registered under B-22816, was MSN (Manufacturing Serial Number) 1141.

At this time, the circumstances of the accident are still under investigation, with the Aviation Safety Council of Taiwan leading the investigation. ASCT will also be the official source of information.

According to ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) regulations, ATR will advise the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et Analyses (BEA), safety investigation authority representing the State of the aircraft manufacturer.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, ATR said it "express its deepest sympathy to the families, friends and to those affected by the accident".